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Select and Set Up the Right Fireplace for Your Home |
Either you're building a brand new home or redecorating your old one, chances are the fireplace is one of the first things you think of. Fireplaces are essential to the function and design of any room. Properly designed and installed, a fireplace can add immediate warmth and serve as the room's focal point, pulling all the other room components together. Unfortunately, the opposite also applies: if you choose the wrong fireplace, you can end up with a room that's imbalanced, ill-proportioned, or lacking in character.
Fireplaces are now available in various designs and styles, so there's sure to be one that will suit your taste. Here are a few simple tips to help you choose the perfect fireplace for your home.
Recognize your needs. Do you want a purely decorative fireplace or something that's both aesthetic and functional? A few marble fireplaces are fully decorative, but most are created to hold at least a basic heating element. If you want your fireplace to be functional, you will have to work with available heating systems and your chimney type, which can limit your options. Brick, marble, and stone finishes typically work for all applications.
Know your chimney type. Some chimney types work with different heating sources. The basic types of chimney are:
Class 1 Flue: Normally found in older houses, this type is characterized by a brick or stone chimney stack that measures 7 inches across or more. This type of chimney works with all heat sources.
Class 2 Flue: Homes built after 1960 will normally have this chimney type. The Class 2 Flue possess a slightly smaller steel flue liner in place of the brick structure. It works with LPG, electric fires, and gas but is not recommended for solid fires like logs or wood.
Pre-cast Flue: Nearly all new homes are fitted with a pre-cast flue, characterized by a small rectangular box situated on the roof. Like the Class 2 Flue, it works with all heat sources except solid ones.
If you don't own a chimney, your choices are an electric type of fireplace or one with either a powerflue or balanced flue system. Powerflues offer the rustic look of a traditional fire, but require an electric source situated near the fireplace. Balanced flues are situated behind a glass panel, which can cut down artistic appeal and heat.
Proportion your fireplace. The size of your fireplace and your room should be proportional to one another. A huge fireplace works well in a huge room, and a tiny fireplace should be adequate for a smaller room. You also need to consider the available wall space, and make sure there's adequate floor space in front of the fire to help the heat spread.
Fix a budget. Cost will always be a huge consideration when it comes to fireplaces. They typically cost anywhere from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars. Before choosing a type and finish, search for the available prices on the Internet and determine what you can work with.
Select the right material. The material you chose will affect both the appearance and the function of your fireplace. Stone and brick are generally referred to as the best fireplace materials because they heat extremely well, unlike metal and wood which have to be well-insulated. Try matching the architectural style of your home: a steel grate will suit a classic, stylish look, while a wood or brick finish will suit a rustic country theme.
Consider ongoing costs. When you purchase a fireplace, you don't pay just for the unit alone. Power and fuel costs have to be taken into account, as well as the costs of cleaning and maintenance. Find one that's confirmed energy-efficient by regulating bodies—you'll normally see the energy stamp on the package.
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Steve Harmon is a general contractor with over 25 years of experience in the construction business and the author of many construction and building articles on redeco.org. Steve has been building things since he was a kid, and his mastery in everything from building materials to proper H/VAC design, combined with his clear and simple writing style, has made him one of the most popular authors on redeco.org.
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